Page 18 of Ice Princess

Blade gathers her in his arms and lets her cry all the good feelings, and worries out. She wipes her eyes and looks up at him.

“Let’s make a vaccine.”

“Sounds good to me.” Blade follows her into the lab to start work on the vaccine. He couldn’t wait to be out of this hospital so that he could tell Raven how he felt. He wasn’t about to tell her loved her in a lab, although it would be appropriate given how their relationship started.

Chapter 13 ~Raven

“It feels so good to be free.” Raven walks out and puts her face up to the sun.

“The real air does feel good, and the sunshine,” Blade says standing beside her on the sidewalk.

“Do you have to go back to Florida tonight?” She asks, shading her eyes from the sun.

“Not until tomorrow.” He says.

“Then come home with me, Blade. We can order in and watch a movie and pretend like we are a normal couple.”

“I thought you would never ask.” He said, leaning down to kiss her.

“What would you have done if I hadn’t?”

A twinkle lights up his eyes, “I would have kept coming around until I wore you down.”

“That is what I was hoping you would say. I love you Blade.” She kisses him softly as he looks down into her face.

“I love you too, Raven. I have something I want to talk to you about, I hope that this is a good time.”

She feels her heart stutter, “What is it?”

“I want you to come to Florida and join my team. I want you to come to Florida so I can marry you too, but I think you might need some time for that part.” He winks at her and she feels her heart start to beat harder.

“I am not an infectious disease doctor I am a surgeon.”

“Is that a no?”

She stands there looking at him. Finding a cure for this virus has given her a sense of purpose that she felt was missing in her work. Having to remove another appendix or gallbladder would pale in comparison to finding the cures for diseases that have the potential to kill millions. Being able to do it at Blade’s side makes it an even better deal.

“It’s a yes. As frightening as this has been it made me feel alive. More alive than I have been in a long time. If you will have me on your team, I would be honored to join.”

He grins and kisses her hard.

“That other thing, if you were serious about that. I would say yes.” She feels her heartbeat harder. Did she go too far? Was it too soon?

“Are you serious?” He asks looking down at her, searching her eyes.

“Yes, I am serious.”

“Then I say to point me to the nearest jewelry store because I can’t wait to ask you to be my wife.”

“Are you serious?”

“I have never been more serious about anything in my life. I love you Raven Ballenger and I am going to spend the rest of my life proving it to you.”

Chapter 14 ~Raven

Epilogue 5 years later

“Hey honey, have you seen the binky?” Raven asks looking under the couch cushion while trying to bounce their one-year-old on what is left of her hip. Her life in the last five years has changed so much she doesn’t even recognize it.

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